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LITHGOW’S emerging young cyclist Emily Watts was at it again at the B2B Cycling Festival in Bathurst.
Emily currently rides with Western Region Academy of Sport Cycling Squad and geared up for the NSW Hill Climb Championships and B2B Criteria race with an intense block of training as a part of her preparation for Australian All Schools Triathlon in Hervey Bay later in the month.
First up was the Hill Climb with starts in the Pit Area of Mt Panorama and up a service road to the top of the mountain.
Emily was off in the middle of her age category and came out fast into the climb.
She passed two other competitors and another at the top of the climb as she sprinted to the finished.
When asked how she went she said: “I was surprised when I got to the top it was shorter than I thought.”
She had to wait to find out her final placing after the other athletes had finished the climb.
Emily was ecstatic to check the result and find that she was fastest up the climb and the new NSW under 17 women’s hill climb champion.
It was a quick turn around and she quickly transferred into criterion mode but as she would later demonstrate remained in time trial mode.
The criterion course was challenging and centred around the pit area of the complex.
The group was off to a quick start with each rider moving into position and executing their race plan.
Two laps into the six lap race Emily found herself feeling fresh and with a burst of energy pushed off the front of the group and quickly gapped the rest of the field.
Emily found herself with a 40 second gap and after claiming the mid race prim, she pushed on to the cheers of the crowd.
The talented cyclist rode onto extend her lead to nearly a minute and finish well ahead on the field and her first ever criterion win.
Emily went into camp with the other Academy cycling squads from around the state based out of Georges Plains for the next four days.
Emily came back from camp excited about the rest of the cycling season, but before she can focus on this she has the Australian All Schools Triathlon in Hervey Bay.
Emily would like to thank long term supporters Ray White Lithgow, Splashes Spa World, the recent support from Lithgow Council and her coach Melissa Ashton and the Western Region Academy of Sport.